Couch-hammock.



W. B. FOSTER.

COUCH HAMMOGK.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 1913.

1,126,744. Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES I INVENTOR m fiafi mljfi ATTORNEYS W. B. FOSTER.

COUCH HAMMOGK.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 1913.

1, 1 26,744. Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

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WITNESSES INVENTOR Mm; $,5' 1/CM. WY m 1g M ATTORNEYS THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHuTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON. D. c

UNITED STACFES PATENT OFFICE.

wxLLraM .B. ros'rnn, or-UrIoA,-nnw- YORK, assionon ro rosrnn BROTHERS MANU- 'FACTURIN-G COM?ANY,

OF UTICA, NEW YORK,-'A CORPORATION.

' ooniiH-iiAMMooK.

Application filed August18, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM B. FOST R, of Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Couch-Hammocks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,'clear, and eXact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the reference numerals marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

' My present invention relates to couch hammocks, swinging chairs and similar furniture having a seat suspended by suitable means and provided with a back or wind shield around both ends and one side.

The general purpose of my invention is to provide an improved article of the class described and one that shall be simple in construction, efficient in operation and comfortable and durable in use.

A further object of my invention is 'to provide a couch hammock or similar article wherein the back or wind shield and its framework or rod are supported by the hammock supporting means but are not themselves a part of the hammock supporting means nor subjected to any of the strain thereon.

Another object of my invention is to provide an article of the class described wherein the wind shield, its frame or rod and the supporting means readily fold to the seat when the hammock or chair is taken down and again assume normal position when'the article is suspended without any intervening steps or motions being necessary in either operation.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an article of the class described wherein the wind shield and its framework or rod are so constructed and so connected to the rest of the couch hammock as to obtain great simplicity in construction and neatness in appearance; in fact, the wind shield is composed of a single continuous piece of fabric mounted upon a single bent rod at its upper edge.

A further object of this invention is to so mount this one-piece wind shield and itssupporting rod that said jpartswill re- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

'Serial No. 785,203.

ceive none of the strain from the weight of the hammock but may be readily folded to the seat when desired.

Another object of my invention is to provide in combination with an article of the class described, an improved clamp for securing-the wind-shield to the hammock supporting means.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a couch hammock embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the wind shield used in my invention. -Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the bent mounting rod used to hold the wind shield in extended position. Fig. l is a plan or diagram of the wind shield before it is placed upon its bent mounting rod. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the clamp used to secure the wind shield to the hammock supporting means. Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section through the clamp and adjacent part of the wind shield and its mounting rod.

Referring to the drawings in a more particular description, the couch hammock or swinging seat is here shown in connection with a portable hammock support, but it will be understood that the article may be used with any proper support esired. From suitable hooks 10 upon such support flexible suspension members, such as chains 11, extend down to the seat 12 and have their ends attached thereto in any suitable manner as by having rings 13 at the lower ends of the chains engage buttons 1e projecting from the seat 12. To this seat 12 and suspension chains 11 are added what is commonly called a wind shield 15, which when properly mounted forms with its mounting, not simply a wind shield but a back and two end pieces for the article of furniture. The wind shield 15 is composed of one piece of any proper strong fabric of the shape indicated in Fig. l and of sufficient length to extend from the front corner of one end around that end and around the back and then forward on the other end to the front corner of that end. Along the upper edge of this wind shield is formed a hem if a of sufficient size to receive the rod 16. This rod is preferably a single piece of stiff metal having its two ends bent at right angles to its central portion so that-the central straight portion 16 will" be of substantially the length of the couch, while its two ends 16 are each of a length equal to' the width of the couch bed. The upper edge of the wind shield 15 is then mounted upon the rod 16 by running the rod 16 through the hem 15 The wind shield will thus be bent to form a back portion 15 and two end portions 15. The wind shield is then placed over the seat 12 with the buttons 14 projecting through small apertures 17 near the lower edge of the end portions 15 of the wind shield. The couch ham- -mock is then hung up by its suspending chains 11. The wind shield is then raised far enough to make it hang straight without wrinkles, and its end portions clamped or otherwise secured to the chains 11.

By reason of there being at least two chains at each end and the clamp securing, not simply the fabric of the Wind shield to the chain but also the rod therewithin, the whole rod 16 is supported in a horizontal position, which in turn holds the entire upper edge of the wind shield in horizontal position along the back l5 as well as across the two end portions 15. The rod 16 is of such strength and shape and placed at such height above the seat as to form a stiff back rail for the couch hammock.

Along the lower edge of the back section 15 of the wind shield are provided buttonholes 18 engaging buttons suitably placed upon the back of the seat and to keep the back of the wind shield tight enough for all purposes. But neither these fastenings nor the fastenings at the top and bottom of the ends of the wind shield to the seat and chains, are made tight enough to take any of the strain of the weight of the couch hammock upon the wind shield. In other words, the suspending chains 11 at all times support the full weight of the hammock seat or any strain brought thereupon, so that the wind shield does not become stretched out of place or shape, nor lose its neat appearance. The hammock seat is prevented from sagging or becoming uneven since it is supported entirely by the chains 11 and does not rely upon the fabric of the wind shield.

The forming of the wind shield and its rod, each of one piece, allows of a much simpler and more economical construction than heretofore and prevents the Wind shield from unduly wrinkling or opening at the corners. This construction also dispenses with the usual lacing of different sections of fabric at the corners of the wind shield, and also dispenses with the use of corner fastenings upon the rod or upright rigid framework in the wind shield.

It will be seen thatwhen the couch hammock is takendown the wind shield, its rod and the suspension chains will all fold compactly to the seat without attention and will likewise resume, their normal position withbridge-like or arch-shaped clip 18 straddling the chain 11, having its two ends shaped to fit'the rod 16 and having its middle portion pierced by a screw 19 which extends through the chain 11 and the wind shield material into screw-threaded engagement with the rod 16. The head of the screw 19 bears upon the clip 18 andso keeps the clip in place against the rod 16. The shank of the screw extending through one of the chain links keeps the whole clamp and with it the wind shield in proper position on the chain 11. This clamp is not placed in position until after the wind shield has been placed on the rod and so does not interfere with the one piece construction of wind shield or rod. The clamp is readily mounted and'does not injure the material of the wind-shield nor its arrangement on the rod 16.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination in a couch hammock of a seat, means for suspending said seat extending directly thereto, a continuous rod extending about both ends and one side of said seat and spaced above therefrom, a continuous wind shield depending from said rod and means for suspending said rod and shield from said seat suspending means without receiving strain therefrom. V f 2. 'In a couch hammock or the like, means to the hammock supporting chains, consisting of an arch-shaped clip straddling the chain and fitting against the wind shield mounting rod at each end and a means extending through said clip, chain and rod adapted to hold said clip and rod together and to be supported by said chain. V

3. The combination in a couch hammock of a seat, flexible means for suspending said seat extending directly thereto, a continuous wind shield extending about one side and .both ends of the hammock and havinga hem at its upper edge, a similarly extending continuous rod inserted in said hem and means extending through said hem and attaching said rod to said seat suspending means whereby'said rod and shield are suspended from said suspension means but receive no strain therefrom.

4. The combination in a couch hammock of a seat, flexible means for suspending said seat extending directly thereto, a wind shield extending about one side and both ends of the hammock and having a hem at its upper edge, a similarly extending rod inserted in said hem and means grasping said rod through said hem and attaching said rod to said seat suspending means whereby "said securing the wind shield mounting rod rod and shield are suspended from said suspension means but receive no strain therefrom.

5. The combination in a couch hammock of a seat, flexible means for suspending the seat consisting of members at each end spreading from a common point above directly to points near the corners of the seat, a wind shield extending about one side and both ends of the hammock, a similarly extending rod secured to the upper edge of said shield and means securing said rod at two points on eachend of the hammock and intermediate the ends of the rod to the seat suspending means whereby the rod and shield are suspended in extended position about the seat but without receiving strain from said seat or suspending means.

6. The combination in a couch hammock of a seat, flexible means for suspending the seat consisting of members at each end spreading from a common point above directly to points near the corners of the seat, a wind shield within said suspension means extending about one side and both ends of the hammock, a similarly extending rod secured to the upper edge of said shield, means extending through the .lower part of said shield for fastening the lower ends of said suspending means to the seat and means securing said rod at two points on each end of the hammock and intermediate the ends of the rod to the seat suspending means whereby the rod and shield are suspended in extended position about the seat but without receiving strain from said seat or suspending means.

-In witness whereof I have afiixed my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 28 day of July, 1913.

WILLIAM B. FOSTER. Witnesses:

HARRIET WILLIAMS,

W. G. STONE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G." 

